23 September 2026
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Story Lunga Luthuli
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Photo Lunga Luthuli
Food parcels donated by staff in the Housing and Residence Affairs division at the Qwaqwa Campus to support students facing food insecurity.
For students facing uncertainty about their next meal, a food parcel can provide more than temporary relief. It can offer reassurance, restore dignity and remind them that their wellbeing matters.
This is the message behind an initiative by housekeeping staff in the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Housing and Residence Affairs division, who came together to support students experiencing food insecurity at the Qwaqwa Campus.
Care beyond the classroom
The initiative was inspired by the close relationships housekeeping staff have developed with students living in campus residences. According to Nthabeleng Ntsane of Housing and Residence Affairs, staff members form part of students’ daily lives and often witness challenges that may go unnoticed by others.
“We are not only the people who clean their residences; we are part of their everyday lives,” Ntsane said.
She explained that housekeeping staff often see students preparing meals, returning from classes, studying late at night and, in some cases, struggling silently.
These close relationships have led students to regard housekeeping staff as parental figures in the residences, affectionately calling them “AboMamzo” and “AboPapzo”. Ntsane said staff members similarly view the students as their own children.
Responding to food insecurity
The decision to donate food parcels followed staff members’ realisation that some students were struggling to afford proper, balanced meals.
Although the gesture may appear small, Ntsane said it could provide hope, dignity and reassurance to a student returning from a full day of classes without knowing where their next meal would come from.
The initiative demonstrates how members of the university community can respond to students’ needs in practical and compassionate ways.
Supporting student wellbeing
For
Mokgadi Sathekge, a Qwaqwa Campus
Student Representative Council (SRC) member and Deputy President, the donation is a thoughtful and meaningful act of support. She said housekeeping staff have consistently demonstrated compassion and generosity towards the student population.
“These are people who see us every day and are part of our daily environment,” Sathekge said. “Their decision to donate food parcels shows that they genuinely care about the students and our well-being.”
Sathekge linked the initiative to this year’s Global Student Wellbeing Summit theme, “Leaving No Student Behind”. She said food support can help reduce the pressures associated with food insecurity, allowing students to focus more fully on their studies and overall wellbeing.
“A simple food parcel can have an impact that extends far beyond the meal,” she said. “It can help a student feel supported enough to keep going.”
Ubuntu through collective care
The initiative also reflects the values of care, compassion and Ubuntu within the university community.
Sathekge said supporting students should extend beyond academic performance to include their personal and social needs. Ntsane echoed this view, citing the principle, “Motho ke motho ka batho” - a person is a person through other people.
The gesture highlights the important role that staff across the university can play in creating a supportive environment in which students feel seen, valued and cared for.
Strengthening the university community
Ntsane said the team hopes students understand that they are not alone and that their wellbeing matters. She also hopes the gesture will inspire students to extend the same kindness and care to others in the future.
Sathekge expressed her appreciation to the staff members who care for students who are living away from their homes and families. She said their work to maintain healthy, safe and clean residences, together with their continued support for students, does not go unnoticed.
The initiative, Ntsane said, is an investment in students and in building a stronger, more compassionate university community.